The Storybook Land Canal Boat Diaries

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The Storybook Land Canal Boat Diaries

One of the standout landscapes is Gepetto's Village. Gepetto's shop has tiny toys hanging from the windows. Pinocchio even has his own mailbox. The backdrop is the Swiss Alps, which helps to hide the Casey Jr. Train. In later years, the mountain backdrop would blend seamlessly with the Matterhorn.

The home of the Big Bad Wolf.

Along another bank is Toad Manor, home of Mr. Toad. The model was so inspirational that the facade was copied and applied in full scale in front of the revamped version of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in the remodeled Fantasyland of 1983. Further along the canal is the home to the Seven Dwarfs with their diamond mine nearby and 150 year old plus dwarf trees.

Cinderella's Castle

The highest visual element within the attraction is Cinderella Castle. The castle is over 15 feet tall and uses forced perspective to appear even taller. The obsession with detail was so extreme that the roof of the castle is covered in gold-leaf.

Just beyond the Giant's quilt are three old windmills. Once again the attention to detail was so important that Walt suggested that tulips be planted in front of the windmills. So the Imagineers hired a horticulturist from the San Francisco Bay to locate miniature tulip plants that would fit the scale of the windmills. They found what they were looking for in New Zealand. The only problem was that the plants had 18 inch stems. This meant they had to be buried and hidden. In the end, they could not keep the plants alive so they were removed.

Storybook Land Canal Boats UPCOMING EVENTS

One of the benefits of writing a book like Walt and the Promise of Progress City

May 6 @ 2:00 p.m.May 6 @ 7:00 p.m.CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM
Was Walt Disney a New Urbanist?
With Chad Emerson Project Future

May 7 and 8 Walt Disney WorldMeeting with various Cast Member teams.

May 20 @ 11:00 a.m.

There's more to come in June and July. Thanks for your support.

If you enjoyed today's article, then you will LOVE the new book written By Sam Gennawey, Walt and the Promise of Progress City.

Disney Legend Marty Sklar said, "[Sam has] captured much of the attitude and events of the times, and hit on much of Walt's drive and inspiration. [His] research into materials and people who were important in one way or another is exemplary. The notes from Buzz Price, John Hench and Marvin Davis, for example... the apparent influence of Victor Gruen's theories...a relationship that developed with James Rouse - all insightful. It is clear, well researched and useful and thoughtful to anyone studying urban planning."

Nice article . . . except the part about keeping the attraction open a few more years?!? The attraction is one of my favorites, along with Jungle Cruise, probably because it is one of the few attractions where there is some host/guest interaction (like Jungle Cruise), which is somehow more special and magical than a preprogramed light show in some respects.

I love riding SBCB at night, and at Christmas time, they put up some neat little lights. The ride really brings together all of the Disney characters in one place and gives Fantasyland a heart and a magical feeling.

Fans would have a heart attack as SBCB is torn out, this would mean that Casey Jr. would get the axe, if this happens, then the SBCB in DLP would be the only one.

While Walt may have intended SBCB to be temporary (at one point anyway), he put money into building real copper locks and stainglass, and the attraction is a nice distraction/experience for people of any age. Superstar Limo, which was supposed to be permanent, became the real temporary attraction.

Little kids love SBCB, and parents taking their kids on the ride is a tradition. Too bad Magic Kingdom doesn't have a SBLCB or a Casey Jr. train ride . . . at least not yet, the fact that that new part of MK is called the "Storybook Circus Land" is certainly a hint about what might be coming. Just another reason why FLE won't have a 'heart' without the inclusion of a SBCB.

Sam what a great story. You may be surprised to know WED's Disney Legend John Hench in the mid 70's, actually wanted to complete the giants quilt, by adding Willie's head sleeping at the base of the Castles rock work. The only animation would be his moving tonsil to miss the train stack, sleeping Monstro like eyes, and load snoring as your train entered and ran through his mouth also like the canal boats going through Monstro the whale. His stationary hands would be pulling the quilt up over his sleeping body with his feet sticking out the other end. Maybe someday it will finally get finished as John had completed it in his mind on a model. Walt would have loved the updated John Hench version.